saponification

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noun

The hydrolysis of an ester under basic conditions to form an alcohol and the salt of the acid.

OriginFrench saponification →
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Meanings

nounsaponification (countable and uncountable, plural saponifications)

plural saponifications

  1. countableuncountablechemistryThe hydrolysis of an ester under basic conditions to form an alcohol and the salt of the acid.
  2. countableuncountablechemistryThe reaction of a metallic alkali (base) with a fat or oil to form soap.

Origin

  1. Frenchsaponifier
  2. Frenchsaponification
  3. Englishsaponification

From French saponification, from saponifier (“saponify”).

More words from French

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Finnish saippuoituminen, saponifikaatio
  • saippuoituminenhydrolysis of ester
  • saponifikaatiohydrolysis of ester
  • saippuoituminensoap formation
French saponification
  • saponificationsoap formation
Greek σαπωνοποίηση, σαπωνοποίηση
  • σαπωνοποίηση (saponopoíisi)hydrolysis of ester
  • σαπωνοποίηση (saponopoíisi)soap formation
Japanese 鹼化
  • 鹼化 (kenka)hydrolysis of ester
Polish zmydlanie, saponifikacja
  • zmydlaniehydrolysis of ester
  • saponifikacjahydrolysis of ester
  • zmydlaniesoap formation
  • saponifikacjasoap formation
Portuguese saponificação, saponificação
  • saponificaçãohydrolysis of ester
  • saponificaçãosoap formation
Russian омыление
  • омыление (omylenije)hydrolysis of ester
Spanish saponificación, saponificación
  • saponificaciónhydrolysis of ester
  • saponificaciónsoap formation
Cite this entry
APA

saponification. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/saponification

MLA

“saponification.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/saponification. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “saponification,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/saponification.

Source: saponification on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.